First report of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in Tunisia
Several begomoviruses have been reported to cause tomato yellow leaf curl disease. In the Mediterranean Basin, the two species Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV – EPPO A2 List*) and Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) have been found. In Tunisia, until 2004, only TYLCSV had been detected in tomato, pepper and bean crops. In 2004/2005 tomato samples showing severe symptoms of tomato yellow leaf curl disease were collected from glasshouses in the Sahel region of Tunisia. Typing of these isolates (PCR with specific primers, sequencing) revealed the presence of TYLCV. This virus species was also detected on pepper and bean collected from fields in the same region.
The situation of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in Tunisia can be described as follows: Present, first detected in 2004/2005 in tomato, pepper and bean crops.
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* At present, only Tomato yellow leaf curl virus is listed as such but with the description of several virus species involved in tomato yellow leaf curl disease, this entry may need to be revised.
Sources
Gharsallah Chouchane S, Gorsane F, Nakhla MK, Maxwell DP, Marrakchi M, Fakhfakh (2007) First report of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus-Israel species infecting tomato, pepper and bean in Tunisia. Journal of Phytopathology 155, 236-240.